Thank you, Smart & Final, for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Make a cute lunch that doubles as a bonding experience with your family. My holiday helpers love making their own pizzas. Personalizing their meals is fun way to encourage their love of cooking.

Are you on the hunt for kid-friendly dishes this Thanksgiving? Try an Easy Turkey Pita Pizza with ingredients from your local Smart & Final.

Easy Turkey Pita Pizzas

Ingredients:

• Pita Pockets
• First Street Mozzarella Cheese
• First Street Pizza Sauce
• Toppings (I used Salami, Pepperoni, Bell Peppers, Olives, and a small amount of Cheddar Cheese for the beak & feet)

How to Make an Easy Turkey Pita Pizza

The creation of the pita pizza is as much fun as it is yummy!

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Farenheit.

Spread pizza sauce on your pita pizza. Top it with generous amounts of mozzarella chese.

Use the dried salami for the body of your turkey. Then, use your favorite pizza toppings arranged to resemble feathers. Rainbows of pepperoni with bell pepper strips & olives topped our pita pizzas. This is an opportunity to be creative and have some fun!

Bake your pizzas for 8 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Smart & Final Holiday Helper Giveaway

One food run and you’re done. That’s all it took to nab all of the supplies for our Turkey Pita Pizzas, plus supplies for Thanksgiving dinner. From fresh produce to pumpkin pie ingredients, you can pick up all of your holiday meal ingredients at your local Smart & Final. You can add your local Smart & Final employees to your list of holiday helpers.

My holiday helpers are also my three girls. They’re the reason I want our celebrations to be special. I’ve always tried to ensure they had active roles in the holiday preparations. From list making to cart filling, pizza crafting to pumpkin pie tasting, my holiday helpers are making the festivities fun…and delicious!

Who are your holiday helpers? Is it the friend who does a grocery run for you? Maybe a partner whose an essential worker? Perhaps your mom who has the secret family recipes?

Enter to win groceries for a year from Smart & Final!

Share a picture of your holiday helper on your social media channels with #MySmartandFinal to enter to win groceries for a year!

Tis the season for joining together in the kitchen for holiday meals. From Thanksgiving turkey pizzas to prepping for Christmas, you can get all of the supplies needed at your local Smart & Final.

This post may contain affiliate links. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I could skip the Instant Pot. I could ditch the fancy blender. But don’t take away my ice cream machine.

Dessert is a big deal around here. Dessert is the only thing that stands between me and veganism. It’s my favorite meal of the day, and I spend a lot of time baking treats, dreaming of sweets, and finding the best spots in town.

Looking for the Best Ice Cream in Anaheim? Head HERE.

So when a friend offered this recipe to share with you, I know you and I both needed it!!

Ben & Jerry’s are known for pretty spectacular flavors. You can definitely attack a pint and end up lost in a world of creamy heaven. The best news: you can make your own copycat verson of the iconic chocolate flavor at home!

Ben & Jerry’s Copycat Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 pinch salt

Instructions:

1. In a double bowler, melt chocolate over hot water until smooth. Slowly add the milk, whisking to combine. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
2. Beat eggs with electric mixer until light and foamy, about 1 minute. Slowly add the sugar and continuing mixing until blended.
3. Add cream, vanilla, and salt, blending until combined. Stir in the chocolate mixture to the cream mixture.
4. Pour into ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. In the Cuisinart Ice Cream 2 quart machine, this takes approximately 30 minutes to freeze into soft serve.
5. For firmer ice cream, transfer ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 4 to 6 hours.

Make 1 quart liquid and about 1 ½ quart frozen.

Homemade ice cream is so much easier than you may think! If you can’t get yourself a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, try this recipe for a homemade copycat version.

Do you have a favorite flavor of ice cream? Let us know in the comments!

I always say I’m vegan, except for dessert.

Back in the day finding anything vegan was darn near impossible in a commercial setting. Once month my mom would drive me to a natural grocery store and I would stock up. But if I wanted to go out to dinner with friends or eat fast food, I was pretty much out of luck. So I ate a lot of meals at home, and just accepted that I’d miss out on some things.

It was dessert that broke me. Dessert that converted my diet from vegan back to vegetarian.

But here we are in 2020 with SO MANY OPTIONS! Not only are vegan items widely available, the popularity of the lifestyle has provided a gold mine of yummy recipes to make at home.

Since dessert is my weakness, I’m pumped that there are tons of delicious vegan cakes. Whether you’re looking for chocolate or something fruity, there are so many amazing options.

Best Vegan Cake Recipes

Vegan Puppy Chow Cake – Vegan Doll House

Hazelnut Chocolate Zucchini Cake – Natural Fit Foodie

Vegan Chocolate Cake – Cooking Journey

Chocolate Biscuit Cake – Spa Bettie

Vegan Victoria Sponge – Veggie Desserts

Vegan Carrot Cake – Little Sunny Kitchen

Olive Oil, Cardamom, and Blood Orange Polenta Cake – Recipes From a Pantry

Vegan Vanilla Raspberry Oreo Cake – Food Al

Vegan Zero Cake – Renana’s Kitchen

Vegan Lemon Cake with Coconut and Almonds – Very Vegan Val

Vegan German Apple Cake – Very Vegan Val

Vegan Strawberry Cake – Make It Dairy Free

Vegan Lemon Drizzle Cake – Baked by Clo

Vegan Marbled Chocolate Banana Cake – Delighted Baking

Vegan Chocolate Orange Cake – That Girl Cooks Healthy

Chocolate Chip Cookie Layer Cake – The Banana Diaries

Vegan Peaches and Cream Layer Cake – The Baking Fairy

Vegan Red Velvet Cake – Nora Cooks

Vegan Pistachio Cake – Vanilla Crunch

Lemon Blueberry Cake – Bianca Zapatka

Biscoff Vegan Marble Cake – Pies and Tacos

Vegan Banana Cake – Domestic Gothess

Vegan Oreo Cake – Chasing the Queen

Looking for more vegan recipes? Try these Vegan Breakfast Ideas!

I will probably toe the line between vegetarian and vegan for a little bit longer, but I know that when I’m ready to go back to dairy and animal byproduct-free I won’t have to miss out on sweets. These vegan cakes are a true delight!

Which vegan cake recipe are you going to bake first?

I was 13 when my brother got married in New Orleans. With my gigantic family, we explored his city visiting everything from gorgeous churches to alligator swamps. I bought a voodoo doll to prepare myself for high school (totally kidding, but I’ve always like less than traditional souvenirs).

So many amazing destinations…including Cafe du Monde. It’s there under the green and white striped awnings that you can order cafe’ au lait with the most scrumptious squares of fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Beignets are heaven. But, unfortunately, the Cafe du Monde beignets are also far away. Rest assured, you can find beignets here in Anaheim.

Where to Get Beignets in Anaheim

Disneyland Resort

Mint Julep Bar

Head to New Oreleans Square where the Mint Julep Bar is tucked away by the train station. The quick service restaurant offers Mickey-shaped beignets lightly dusted with pixie dust/powdered sugar in servings of 3 or 6. Seasonal flavors are offered, too. Pair your snack with a non-alcoholic mint juleps with a hint of lime.

Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express

Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in the Downtown Disney District brings Cajun-Creole cuisine to area outside of the resort. Grab an order of beignets to go before heading into the parks or for enjoying al freso while listening to live music. Order traditional beignets or as French Toast dippers, beignet sticks with cinammon-powdered sugar and maple syrup.

The Chippy Fish & Grill

The Anaheim Packing House is filled with foodie finds. The Chippy’s menu is filled with fish & chips in single servings and group meals. End your meal with delightful beingets before strolling the two-story food hall.

Totally obsessed with beignets and want to make them at home? It’s easier than you think!

New Orleans Beignets Recipe

Ingredients

Makes approximately 40 donuts

• 1 packet active dry yeast 
• 1 ½ cups warm water (105° to 115°), divided 
• 8 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 7 cups bread flour 
• 4 tablespoons vegetable shortening 
• Vegetable oil, for frying 
• Sifted powdered sugar, for coating

Instructions

1. In a stand mixer bowl, stir together ½ cup water, sugar, and yeast. Allow the yeast to bloom for 5 minutes.
2. Add the evaporated milk, eggs, and salt to the yeast mixture and beat just until combined.
3. In a large measuring cup, stir vegetable shortening into the remaining warm water. Mix into yeast mixture.
4. Add 4 cups bread flour to mixing bowl and blend until smooth. Slowly add remaining bread flour.
5. Transfer dough to an oiled bowl, turning the dough to oil all sides. Cover with plastic wrap.
6. The dough can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or allowed to rise in a warm, draft-free location until it doubles in size.
7. Heat vegetable oil in a fryer or dutch oven until 360 degrees.
8. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently shape into a rectangle. Roll the dough to ¼ inch thickness.
9. With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into about 40 rectangular pieces.
10. Fry the beignets in small batches about 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden. Remove and drain on paper toweling. 
11. Before serving, sprinkle heavily with powdered sugar.

See how easy it is to make your own beignets!

Making beignets at home is a fun way to celebrate Mardi Gras or enjoy a New Orleans-themed treat. Whether you grab them around Anaheim or make them yourself, make sure there’s plenty of powdered sugar!

Where are my beignet lovers at? If you aren’t one already, you will be after trying this recipe!

All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s Oogie’s turn to Boogie now!

Oogie Boogie, the bug-filled gambler, in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas took over the decor at Disney California Adventure Park. His burlap face rests atop the park’s entrance, and he’s throwing quite the Halloween party.

If you’re looking to bring a little fun home, try these Oogie Boogie Cupcakes, decked out with a little extra Disney magic in the form of Minnie Mouse ears and bow.

Minnie Mouse Oogie Boogie Cupcakes

These cupcakes can be made with three steps:

• make fondant decorations
• make cupcakes
• make frosting

If you’re short on time, a boxed cake mix can be a big time savings. The recipe I’m sharing today fancies up a cake mix. If your friends or family judge you, make sure to spin Oogie Boogie’s roulette wheel of torture to find a suitable punishment!

Mom truth bomb: I’ve even purchased cupcakes from my local grocery store bakery and added my own decorations when in a pinch.

If you’re new to fondant, this would be a great way to test it out! You’ll be rolling out pre-made fondant and cutting circles. Using edible markers, you’ll draw Oogie Boogie on your circles. Not so sure of your artistic abilities? Print and cut out a picture of Oogie to use as a stencil.

Fondant Ears

Ingredients & Supplies

• 1 container of neon green fondant
• 1 container of purple fondant
• 1 container of black fondant
• 1 4-inch round fondant cutter
• 1 black edible marker
• 1 silver edible marker
• 1 small cutting board
• 1 fondant roller
• 1 C powder sugar
• 1 cookie sheet
• 1 Wilton bow fondant mold

Directions.

• Sprinkle powder sugar onto cutting board and spread around.
• Remove neon green fondant from container and place onto cutting board
• Coat fondant with powder sugar and roll out onto the cutting board into a flat 1/2 inch disk.
• Using the 4-inch round cutter, cut out 24 circles. Put aside on cookie sheet
• Using the purple fondant pinch off about 1 tbsp of fondant and place it into the large bow mold. Lightly use your finger to mold into the bow. Pop the bow out and place onto the cookie sheet.
• Using the black fondant and smaller bow mold, mold the black fondant into the bow and pop it out. Place onto the cookie sheet.
• Using the silver marker, dot on polka dots onto the black bow
• Next, fill a cup of water.
• Using your finger, dip it into the water and run it along the back of the black bow. Place the black bow onto the middle of the purple bow
• Using the black edible marker, draw out Oogie Boogie onto the neon green circles.
• Allow to set for 30 minutes.

Zoomed in on the cupcakes a little more, you can see Oogie is drawn on the fondant circles. If you can use a Sharpie, you can do this!

Chocolate cupcakes

Makes 12 Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 box of triple chocolate mix cake mix
• 3 large eggs room temp 
• 1/2 C of softened unsalted sweet cream butter
• 1 C whole milk
• Also needed: cupcake liners and cupcake pan

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line muffin pan with the white cupcake liners
• In a medium bowl, add the cake mix, butter, milk, and stir until combined.
• Scoop batter into the cupcake pans about 3/4 way full
• Bake in the oven for about 18-20 minutes. 
• Pull out the cupcakes and allow to cool before frosting.

Vanilla Frosting

Ingredients

• 2 C unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
• 5 C powder sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla 
• 6-10 TBSP heavy whipping cream
• Also needed: one large piping bag with large star tip

Directions

• Using a stand mixer, combine all ingredients and mix on medium speed.
• Mix until you see stiffed peaks in your frosting.
• Scoop frosting into the piping bag
• Frost cooled cupcakes
• Place two circles on the sides for “Ears”
• Place the bow in the middle of the cupcakes

Pin This Idea for Later

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a favorite around here. Like top 10 status! We even had a Nightmare Before Christmas party for my daughter’s 10th birthday. If you need any inspiration, I’ve got you covered!

Stitch some something sweet with Sally Sugar Cookies.

The Pumpkin King rules as a Rice Krispies treat, too! Make Jack Skellington Rice Krispies Treats.

Looking for party decor ideas? Make an inexpensive Nightmare Before Christmas Photo Backdrop!

Scavenger Hunts were the jam for me as a kid! Here’s a themed Nightmare Before Christmas scavenger hunt. Have the kids hunt for things like a dog treat for Zero and soup for Dr. Finklestein in the free printable Nightmare Before Christmas Scavenger Hunt.

Who’s your favorite Nightmare Before Christmas Character? I’d love to turn your favs into desserts! Share in the comments!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for more information.

My family and I go through baking phases. Right now we are in a “cover everything in chocolate” phase…and we are not sorry. We made chocolate dipped pretzels and Oreos for my niece’s high school graduation party. They disappeared so quickly that we made them again for our family reunion the next week.

We’ll be celebrating the 4th of July in just a few days, and these Patriotic Marshmallow Pops are prefect for celebrating with children.

These simple 4th of July treats are super kid-friendly. Not only because the their adorable and festive, but because they are simple to make.

Marshmallow pops are a fun grab and go treat. To make them patriotic, these are covered in red, white, and blue chocolate and star sprinkles. Aren’t they so cute?!?

Ingredients

Regular or jumbo size marshmallows

Candy melt wafers in red and royal blue

Candy melts in white or vanilla-flavored almond bark

Patriotic sprinkles (like stars) in red, white, and blue

Instructions

1. Press four marshmallows onto a straw or treat stick with a twisting motion. Lay on waxed paper.
2. Melt the candy melts in the microwave according to package directions giving special care not to overheat the candy. If the candy is overheated, it will be too thick. You can add 1 teaspoon of vegetable shortening or coconut oil to help thin the chocolate but do not add any other type of liquid as the candy will seize and harden.
3. Transfer melted candy to a piping bag or zip-top freezer bag. Snip the corner of the bag and drizzle melted candy over the marshmallows. Allow each color to set before adding a new color.
4. Repeat piping the candy melts over the marshmallows until all three colors are applied: red, blue, and white. Immediately after applying the last color (white is recommended) and before it sets, top with patriotic sprinkles.
5. Allow the marshmallows to rest on waxed paper until set before packaging or serving.

Looking for more patriotic recipes?

Star spangle your 4th of July breakfast with Patriotic Pancakes!

We will be celebrating the 4th of July with festive red, white, and blue Patriotic Marshmallow Pops. How will you celebrate the holiday?

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for more information.

As a Berry Blogger, or a Knott’s Berry Farm ambassador, I’m always on the hunt for hacks, tips, and tricks to make your day at Knott’s the berry best.  Because of all of my research, the internet bots have got me figured out.  All things Peanuts pop up in the ads on the sites I visit.  You know, you search for a couch and then all of the ads just so happen to be couches?  Well, for me it’s Peanuts merch.

I adore it all!  But when I saw this Peanuts Gummy Maker , I knew I had to have it.  

Peanuts Gummy Candy Maker Review

The Smart Planet Gummy Candy Maker came with 4 silicone molds to make Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, and Snoopy’s doghouse.  The four molds rest in circular trays that snap together easily.   Included instructions tell you to fill the trays with ice and place the molds on top to chill gummies.  You can also put the candy in the refrigerator to cool faster.

Also included is a microwaveable bowl that sits inside the circular tray.  The bowl comes with a pour spout to make for neater pouring.  I’m not a huge fan of microwaving plastic, so I opted to skip using the bowl.

The molds are adorable!  They make decent sized gummies, and, with the right recipe,  the gummies pop out well from the silicone molds.

I can’t wait to try using the molds to make chocolate treats also.

Included in the candy maker is a recipe book and more instructions.  Do not use the included recipe.  It’s gross.  I made a batch before a party for my friends.  Thankfully, they like me enough to forgive me for serving them the first batch of gummies I tried making.  I have apologized profusely for the tasteless gelatin blobs.

Homemade Peanuts Gummies Recipe

With all of that said, making Homemade Peanuts Gummies is super fun and so I happily kept on trying recipes to find one that was equal parts adorable and delicious!

These gummies are a great cross between Jell-o and gummies.  They stored well in an air-tight container for days, and were a great treat to bring to our Knott’s adventures.

They are inexpensive to make, with just a couple of ingredients.  That means we’ve got even more to spend on funnel cake and boysenberry soft serve!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 1 small package Jell-o, any flavor
• 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
• Peanuts Gummy Maker

How to Make Homemade Gummies

In a sauce pan, add water and heat over low heat.

Add Jell-o and gelatin to sauce pan.

Mix until dissolved.

Pour into molds.

It was recommended to use droppers  to fill the molds, and that was so helpful!  My daughters helped to make the gummies, and having the droppers made the process much cleaner.  If you are baking with your littles, keep in mind that the liquid will be hot.

As you are filling molds, avoid air bubbles.  They don’t change the taste, but look cuter without the air bubbles.

One of the small boxes of Jell-o mixed with the gelatin and water will fill all 4 candy molds.

You can use the manufacturer’s instructions to chill over ice or put in the fridge to set.  They’ll harden into squishy, yummy gummies.  We left ours for 30 minutes and they were ready to go!  After they’ve set, carefully pop gummies from molds.

My kids also helped to pop the gummies out of the molds.  I gave my four-year-old the doghouses to pop out since they are the easiest.  Snoopy’s probably the most challenging to get out and will lose a limb if you go too quickly so take a little extra care on him.

Looking to make Homemade Vegetarian Gummies?

Gelatin is not vegetarian, which means many gummies aren’t either. My kids are not true vegetarians (yet) so I’m finding hacks to make their favorite treats vegetarian for later on.

The Homemade Peanuts Gummies require three ingredients: water, Jell-o, and gelatin.

You can find vegetarian swaps on Amazon like Simply Delish Natural Jel Dessert with strawberry and raspberry flavor options.  In place of the traditional gelatin, you could use this vegan gelatin.

You can also use the Peanuts Gummy Candy Maker to make gummies out of your favorite fruit juice with honey and your gelatin of choice.

That’s the great thing about having a super cute reusable mold.  There are tons of ways to make adorable themed treats!

All the Peanuts Fun is at Knott’s Berry Farm

If you love all things Peanuts as much as I do, you’ll want to check out the newest Season of Fun at Knott’s Berry Farm.  The PEANUTS Celebration transforms the theme park, making it feel like you’ve stepped into a comic strip.

More on the Peanuts Celebration

PEANUTS Celebration Guide

PEANUTS Celebration with Preschoolers

The best way to experience the PEANUTS Celebration and all of the Seasons of Fun is with a Season Pass to Knott’s Berry Farm. 

Do you love the Peanuts Gang as much as I do? Share your favorite character in the comments!

This post may contain affiliate links.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

These Mary Poppins cupcakes are French Vanilla with homemade frosting and an umbrella fondant topper.  They are seriously the sweetest, and I promise you can make them with no magic required.

Mary Poppins Cupcakes

I’m not sure about you, but I’ve got limited time on my hands.  So I pick my battles, my scheduling battles as well as my baking battles.  If there’s going to be a super cute topper for a treat, I’m so okay with cutting out other steps.

So let’s just keep it between you and me that the cupcakes themselves started with a cake mix.  Or heck, let’s shout it from the rooftops so everyone knows it’s a-okay to make things a little easier on yourself now and then.

Either way, the cupcakes are adorable and delicious!  You’re going to fancy them up a bit rather than just following the simple box instructions, however.

Making Mary Poppins Cupcakes

• 1 box French Vanilla cake mix
• 3 large eggs, room temperatureFr
• 1/2 c unsalted sweet cream butter
• 1 c whole milk
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• red & white cupcake liners, like these

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake tin with cupcake liners.

In a medium bowl, mix cake mix, eggs, butter, milk, and vanilla together.  Mix until well combined.

Fill cupcakes 3/4 full.

Bake for 21 minutes.

Let cool.

Frosting

• 1 c unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
• 2 1/2 c powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3-5 tbsp heavy cream
• 1 piping bag, fitted with a star tip

Combine all ingredients & mix in a stand mixer on medium speed.

Mix until stiff peaks form.

Once cupcakes have cooled, frost cupcakes.

Mary Poppins Cupcake Toppers

• White fondant 
• Small circle fondant cutter
• 1 c powdered sugar
• Fondant rolling pin
• 1 can blue edible spray
• 1 tube black cookie icing

Start by sprinkling a cutting board with powdered sugar to prevent sticking.

Place your white fondant on the cutting board and roll out to 1/2 inch thickness.

Use your fondant cutter to cut out 22 circles.

Spray circles with edible spray on outer rim (leaving white in the middle of circle).

Using black icing, draw an umbrella on your fondant circles.

Once dry, arrange on frosted cupcakes.

The umbrella design and red and white striped cupcakes scream Mary Poppins to me.  Add a penguin iced cookie and a spoonful of sugar to make a phenomenal tea party on Cherry Tree Lane.  Speaking of parties, I’ve got a whole Pinterest board dedicated to Mary Poppins party ideas.  I keep hinting that it’s what I want for my next birthday party theme.  You never stop needing Mary Poppins in your life!

That’s why I’m so excited for Mary Poppins Returns to be coming to theaters December 19th!

In Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, an all-new original musical and sequel, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London.

I’ve been counting down the seconds and saving my tuppence so I’m ready. The official trailer can be seen  here.  Plus, the recently released special look shows the music and magic of Mary Poppins Returns.  Oh Emily Blunt, you’re practically perfect in every way.

We’re getting everything ready to see Mary Poppins Returns in theaters December 19th.  From reading the books to baking our yummy treats, it’s a jolly holiday here in Clementine County.

Follow along with the fun: 

Like MARY POPPINS RETURNS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marypoppinsreturns/

Follow Walt Disney Studios on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneystudios 

Follow MARY POPPINS RETURNS on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marypoppinsreturns/

This post may contain affiliate links.  Please read my Disclosure Policy for more information.

The pink cotton candy flavored fudge is inspired by Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms coming to theaters this November.  Two layers of sweet white chocolate and marshmallow fudge are swirled together in a simple fudge recipe that you can share with a prince or a gang of mice.  You can even keep it all to yourself!

A little more The Nutcracker and the Four Realms :

All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefull return harmony to the unstable world. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Disney’s new holiday feature film “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston, and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale.

With the holidays approaching, I’ll be baking up a storm.  One fun way to get social with your sweets is to host a Cookie Exchange.  Never hosted one?  Get all the details on  how to host a cookie exchange from A Modern Cinderella.

Sugar Plum Fairy Fudge Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 c granulated sugar
• 3/4 c heavy cream
• 3/4 c unsalted butter
• pinch of salt
• 11 oz white chocolate morsels
• 7 oz jar of marshmallow creme
• 1 tbsp cotton candy flavoring
• 1 drop pink food coloring

Directions

Add butter, sugar, heavy cream, and salt to a large saucepan.  Cook over medium to high heat until mixture starts to boil.  Make sure to stir consistently.

Once boiling, remove from heat.

Add white chocolate and marshmallow to mixture.  Use a whisk or electric mixer to stir until fully combined and smooth (about 1-2 minutes).

Poor half of your fudge mixture onto parchment paper-lined 13 x 9 inch baking pan.

Add cotton candy flavoring and pink food coloring to remaining half.  Mix for an additional minute, until combined.

Pour the cotton candy mixture on top of the first layer.  Swirl the two layers together using a butter knife.

Refrigerate over night.  To add a little extra sparkle, sprinkle sugar on top before fudge sets completely.

Cut into 1 inch squares before serving.

It makes a sweet gift, but I won’t tell if you hide in the Land of Sweets and save it all for yourself.

Are you looking for more The Nutcracker and the Four Realms fun?

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Character Posters – Get a peek at the characters gracing the screen in Disney’s new holiday film.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Coloring Pages – Grab free printable coloring pages of characters and scenes from the film, plus additional activity pages.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Gift Ideas

If you’re shopping for a little ballerina this holiday season, consider the sweetest pop-up book from Studio Fun International.

Disney The Nutcracker and the Four Realms: A Center Stage Pop-Up Book delighted my preschooler as the Ballerina of the Realms took center stage through each of the realms.   We adore snuggling by the Christmas tree for storytime, and the colorful scenes on a sturdy pop-up book are perfect for sharing together.   This story focuses on the pageant portion of the new Disney version of the beloved holiday classic.  Grab your copy here.

With The Nutcracker and the Four Realms just weeks away from its release  on November 2nd and my busiest baking season here, it already feels like the holidays in Clementine County!

What are you looking forward to this holiday season?

This post may contain affiliate links.  Please read my  Disclosure Policy for more information.

Halloween is my favorite holiday of them all!  It’s all about the sweets, dressing up, and watching Hocus Pocus on repeat.  It’s true that I’m buying bags of candy for trick or treaters, but I love making things at home also.

These Minnie Sugar Cookies feature Minnie Mouse wearing a witch’s hat.  Minnie’s pretty much my spirit animal, and so I’m smitten with her Halloween costume at Disneyland.

I mean, how cute is Minnie dressed as a witch?   There are super cute Minnie Mouse Witch Cupcakes available during the Halloween season as well.  We found these at Marceline’s at Downtown Disney.

To honor the mouse with the most this Halloween season, these Minnie Mouse Witch Sugar Cookies are perfect!

I should probably hide this “secret” for the end of this post with a big reveal, but I am pretty pumped.  No cookie cutter? No problem!  You can use any design as a template.  Roll out your dough as normal, and use a knife to trace the design.

Minnie Mouse Witch Cookies for Halloween

Ingredients:

• 1 c unsalted sweet cream butter, softened
• 1 1/2 c powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 3 c flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cream of tartar

Royal Icing Ingredients:

• 4 egg whites
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 4 1/2 c powdered sugar
• orange, purple, & black gel food coloring
• 3 piping bags, fitted with #2 tip
• 3 squeeze bottles
• edible marker

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prep a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Using a stand mixer, combine sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla.  Mix until creamy and well combined.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, cream of tartar, and baking soda.

Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients slowly, on low speed. It can help to finish mixing the dough by hand.

Lightly flour a cutting board and knead the dough a couple of times.

Roll dough to 1/2 inch thick, and begin cutting your shape.  A cookie cutter like this one makes for easy cuts on multiple cookies.  Like I mentioned above, you can always print out the design you’d like and cut it out.

Decorating:

Using a stand mixer, combine egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla, and powdered sugar.  Mix until well combined and stiff peaks form.

Split icing into three bowls.  Add food coloring to the three separate bowls & combine.

Scoop 1/4 cup of each into separate piping bags.  The remaining will be thinned for filling in designs.  Add 2-4 tsp of water to the icing bowls, mix, and add to squeeze bottles.

Your edible marker will allow you to draw your design onto the cookie.  Don’t worry if it’s not perfect at first, you’ll be covering it with icing.

Pipe purple for the hat, orange for the buckle, and black for the rest of Minnie.

Using your thinned icing, squeeze icing to fill in your design.

Let dry overnight before enjoying.

Disney Halloween Treats to Make at Home

Mickey Pumpkin Donuts

Sally Sugar Cookies

Mickey Candy Corn Sugar Cookies

Looking for more Mickey Mouse baking ideas? 

Minnie, you’re seriously the cutest!

If you’re looking to bring a little extra magic to your Halloween baking, let these Minnie in costume inspired cookies top your baking list.